What We Know About the NYC Shooting of Healthcare Executive
The search for the man who fatally shot a high-ranking healthcare executive in New York City has entered its third day, with police pursuing multiple leads in a case that has baffled investigators.
Brian Thompson, the 50-year-old CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was shot and killed Wednesday morning outside the Hilton hotel in Midtown Manhattan. Authorities have labeled the killing as a premeditated act but have yet to identify a motive.
Police are collaborating with the FBI and other state authorities to track the suspect, whose escape may have taken him beyond New York. Clues include surveillance images, cryptic bullet casings, and items linked to the suspect’s movements.
Here’s what investigators have uncovered so far.
Leads and Evidence
Police have gathered over 200 surveillance images of the suspect, covering his movements from his arrival in New York to his departure from the scene. On Thursday, two clear photos were released, including one where the suspect, briefly unmasked, smiles at a hostel receptionist on the Upper West Side.
The suspect reportedly stayed at the hostel under a false identity, using a fake New Jersey driver’s license. Authorities have searched the hostel and are analyzing a backpack found in Central Park that is believed to belong to him.
Other key pieces of evidence include a mobile phone, a water bottle, a candy wrapper, and a coffee cup found along his escape route. Police hope DNA analysis will provide a breakthrough, but fingerprints collected so far have been unusable.
Suspect’s Timeline in NYC
The suspect arrived in New York on November 24, traveling by bus from Atlanta, though it’s unclear where he boarded. After arriving, he took a cab to the Hilton area before checking into the hostel.
At the hostel, he had two roommates who never saw his face, as he kept a mask on at all times. On the morning of the shooting, he left the hostel, stopped at a Starbucks near the Hilton, and waited outside for Thompson.
Thompson was gunned down around 6:45 a.m., just hours before he was scheduled to speak at an investor conference. Minutes after the attack, the suspect fled into Central Park, later leaving the area on an e-bike.
Investigators believe he boarded a bus at the Port Authority terminal headed for Atlanta, where local police are now assisting in the search.
The Shooting and Escape
The shooting took place in a bustling area of Manhattan near Times Square. Surveillance footage shows the suspect loitering outside the Hilton for five minutes before targeting Thompson, who arrived on foot.
Thompson was shot multiple times in the back and leg. The suspect’s weapon reportedly jammed during the attack, but he quickly fixed it and continued firing. The gun appeared to be equipped with a suppressor, and investigators believe it was a rare BT Station Six 9 pistol, a design with historical ties to World War II.
After fleeing the scene on foot, the suspect switched to an e-bike to escape toward Central Park.
A Cryptic Clue: Bullet Casings
One of the most puzzling pieces of evidence is the writing found on the bullet casings left at the scene. The words “deny,” “defend,” and “depose” were scrawled in marker, leading investigators to consider a connection to the healthcare or insurance industry.
These terms echo the “three D’s” often criticized in the insurance world, referring to tactics used to deny claims. The language bears similarities to the title of a book, Delay, Deny, Defend, a critique of the industry.
The author of the book, Jay Feinman, declined to comment when contacted by reporters.
Who Was Brian Thompson?
Thompson had been with UnitedHealthcare since 2004 and became CEO in 2021. Known for leading the company through highly profitable years, he was a respected figure in the industry.
His wife revealed that he had received threats before his death but could not provide specifics. In 2018, a suspicious incident occurred at the family’s home in Maple Grove, Minnesota, though police found no evidence of criminal activity at the time.
Ongoing Investigation
The NYPD and federal authorities continue to piece together the puzzle surrounding Thompson’s murder. With surveillance footage, forensic evidence, and leads from other states, investigators remain committed to solving the case and bringing the suspect to justice.
